Sunday, September 11, 2016

Over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War (210 million more bombs than were dropped on Iraq in 1991, 1998 and 2006 combined); up to 80 million did not detonate

Over 270
million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War (210 million
more bombs than were dropped on Iraq in 1991, 1998 and 2006 combined); up to 80
million did not detonate

From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than two million tons of
ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing missions—equal to a planeload of bombs
every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day, for 9 years – making Laos the most heavily
bombed country per capita in history. The bombings were part of the U.S. Secret
War in Laos to support the Royal Lao Government against the Pathet Lao and to
interdict traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The bombings destroyed many
villages and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lao civilians during the
nine-year period.

Up to a third of the bombs dropped did not explode, leaving Laos
contaminated with vast quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Over 20,000
people have been killed or injured by UXO in Laos since the bombing ceased. The
wounds of war are not only felt in Laos. When the Americans withdrew from Laos
in 1973, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled the country, and many of them
ultimately resettled in the United States.

Here are some other startling facts about the U.S. bombing of Laos and
its tragic aftermath:

·Over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam
War (210 million more bombs than were dropped on Iraq in 1991, 1998 and 2006
combined); up to 80 million did not detonate.

·Nearly 40 years on, less than 1% of these munitions have been
destroyed.More than half of all confirmed cluster munitions casualties in the
world have occurred in Laos.

·Each year there are now just under 50 new casualties in Laos, down from
310 in 2008. Close to 60% of the accidents result in death, and 40% of the
victims are children.

·Between 1993 and 2016, the U.S. contributed on average $4.9M per year
for UXO clearance in Laos; the U.S. spent $13.3M per day (in 2013 dollars) for
nine years bombing Laos.

·In just ten days of bombing Laos, the U.S. spent $130M (in 2013
dollars), or more than it has spent in clean up over the past 24 years ($118M).